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Luton among worst places in the UK for traffic congestion, study says

Motorists in Luton spend much of their time in congestion. Credit: ITV News Anglia

Luton is one of the worst places in the country when it comes to traffic jams, according to new study.

Research from traffic data firm Inrix suggests motorists in the town spent approximately 29 hours in gridlock last year, costing each of them £1,143.

They also wasted 11% of their total drive time stuck in congestion.

The study took into account direct costs such as wasted fuel and time, as well as things like higher prices for household goods as a result of increased freighting fees.

Only London, Manchester and Birmingham fared worse than Luton which was named the fourth most congested place in the country.

Drivers in Braintree in Essex also got a rough deal, spending on average 33 hours waiting in queues.

London once again tops the UK list. Credit: PA

The UK was the world’s 10th most congested country, while London was ranked as Europe's second most gridlocked city after Moscow.

The 10 most congested UK cities and towns

1.) London

2.) Manchester

3.) Birmingham

4.) Luton

5.) Edinburgh

6.) Bournemouth/Bristol

8.) Newcastle

9.) Coventry

10.) Liverpool

"Combined with the rising price of motoring, the cost of congestion is astonishing - it takes billions out of the economy and impacts businesses and individuals alike," said Dr. Graham Cookson, Chief Economist, INRIX.

"With the Office of National Statistics showing more cars on the road than ever before, we need to consider innovative new approaches to solving the issue.

"Increased flexible working or road charges have potential, however, transport authorities should be looking to exciting developments in data analytics and AI which promise to reinvent our approach to traffic management."